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U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (Air Interdiction Agent): pilot minimums, pay and hiring
| Type | Federal law enforcement aviation (airplane and helicopter), GS-1881 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. area (DHS / CBP) |
| Bases | Duty location assigned after assessment. Current notice lists Tucson and Yuma, AZ; San Diego, CA; El Paso, Laredo and McAllen, TX; Homestead, FL; Aguadilla, PR (Caribbean); UAS sites Sierra Vista, AZ and San Angelo, TX. New hires first serve up to one year on the D.C. task force. |
| Aircraft | Fixed-wing and rotary-wing; P-3 (Corpus Christi, Jacksonville), MQ-9 UAS (Sierra Vista, San Angelo), Pilatus PC-12 (San Angelo) per CBP |
| Published pilot minimums | U.S. citizen; FAA commercial or ATP (airplane or helicopter) with instrument rating; Class 2 medical at the flight assessment; 1,500 h total, 250 PIC, 75 instrument, 75 night; must enter on duty before age 40 (some exceptions); three-part flight assessment in Oklahoma City |
| Published pay | GS-11 range $88,509–$163,996. CBP's example first-year pay (special rate + 25% LEAP): $110,636 (GS-11), $132,606 (GS-12, year 2), $157,686 (GS-13, year 3); up to $159,127 and $189,223 in years 2–3 at UAS sites incl. San Angelo, TX with a 25% retention incentive |
| Hiring status | Accepting applications on USAJOBS (Direct Hire public notice 886512600); $10,000 recruitment incentive after the academy for new federal employees |
| Texas presence | Texas duty locations include El Paso, Laredo and McAllen air branches, the Uvalde air branch and Alpine unit, and national air security centers at Corpus Christi (P-3) and San Angelo (MQ-9, PC-12). All Texas listings |
| Careers | www.usajobs.gov/job/886512600 |
Career ladder GS-11 to GS-13 with automatic promotion after 52 weeks at each grade (supervisor approval). Relocation expenses may be reimbursed. Qualification deadline on the current notice is Oct 31, 2026; check USAJOBS for later notices.
Source / last checked: www.usajobs.gov/job/886512600, www.cbp.gov/border-security/air-sea/oam-operating-locations · checked Oct 28, 2026. Fields marked "Not published" were not stated on the official source when we checked. Always confirm on the operator's site before applying.
FAQ
What are U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (Air Interdiction Agent)'s pilot minimums?
U.S. citizen; FAA commercial or ATP (airplane or helicopter) with instrument rating; Class 2 medical at the flight assessment; 1,500 h total, 250 PIC, 75 instrument, 75 night; must enter on duty before age 40 (some exceptions); three-part flight assessment in Oklahoma City
How much does U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (Air Interdiction Agent) pay pilots?
GS-11 range $88,509–$163,996. CBP's example first-year pay (special rate + 25% LEAP): $110,636 (GS-11), $132,606 (GS-12, year 2), $157,686 (GS-13, year 3); up to $159,127 and $189,223 in years 2–3 at UAS sites incl. San Angelo, TX with a 25% retention incentive